Washing machine



Jan. 13, 1931. F. J. LASAR 1.789.006

WASHING CHINE Filed oct. 28. 1929 a 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FRANK u. 'LASAR.

F. J. LASAR WASHING MACHINE Jan. 13, 1931.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 28, 1929 f wvewrom FRANK 'u. LASAR JTTOIP/VEK Patented Jan. 13, 1931 UNITEED srarss PATENT Fries;

FRANK J. LA-sAR, OF SAN FRANCISCO; CALIFORNIA; Assiolvon ro oHaMrIoN WAsHER COMPANY, LTD, A CORFQEA'J'J'IONUENEVADA- WASHING llllfiilZZHfllNE" Application: filed October 28, 1929. Serial No; 403,010;

My invention relates to improvements in washing machine construction wherein an agitator shaft slidably mounted through a power driven gear, is slidably movable to operative or disengaged relationto the gear .ing mechanism to anoscillating agitator.

A further object is to provide an improved device wherein an agitator actuating shaft may be connected and: disconnected while the machine is in operation.

Another'object isto provide an improved device of the character described of extremely simpleand efficient construction and operation which may be easily and conveniently operated.

A still furtherobject is-to provide an improved construction which will facilitatethe placingand removal of an agitator for operation within a wash tray, and which will permit the agitator to be disconnected'and left idle while the driving mechanism is inoperation. p

I accomplish these and other objects by means of the improveddevice disclosed in the drawings forming a part of the present application wherein like characters of reference are used to designate similar parts.

throughout the specification and drawing and in which, I

Fig. 1 isa front elevation of my, improved washingcmac-hine construction as mounted for operation;

Fig. Q-is a transverse vertica-l'section of'they mounting arm and driving connections of my improved agitator actuating. means;

Fig; 3 is a broken longitudinal vertical section-of-the mechanism as shown in Fig. 2 and at right angles thereto V Fig. i is a planview of the shaft retaining latchmechanism Fig.5 is atransverse sectional detail showing the shaft inoperative engageineiit'w'ith its driving geam-andi I I Fig. 6 isa similar sectional detail showin the shaft'in disengaging relation to said Referring tov the drawmgs, tlrernurnerall is usedto designate 1n generalia; washing machine drivingmechanism o f any's'nitable form, preferably ofthetype mounted upon a. wall 2jabove a stationary wash. tray and driven loya. suitable electric' 'niot'or 4'. The machine is preferab'lyjpr'ovided with the u ual winger mechanism 6 actuated by't'he driving mechanism II M i I Tlieiiia'cliifie' 1 is rovided-with 'anflag'itator mountingiarm 7 rojecting "forwardly from the bodyjo the achiner to a' point {above the wash tray The arin' 7. isprovided with a suitable crankshaffirconnectedto are-anvingi means andaetua'ted" thereby in the "ordinary and well known-marinate impartan' oscillating movement thereto. thespec'ific mechanism by "which thesha'ftt is actuated for s no part-of the present invention; and

as an of a airman:Orwell-known 'e' rpedients maybe resortedto to accomplish this action,

no detailedfiiselosure of such connectionsis herein necessary, and'snchdetaileddisclosure is therefore omittedf I The-outer endf'of the arm 7 is recessed as'at 9 to form a ear honsinginto which the shaft 8 extends. v Asegment' gea'rl l-is secured upon the'end of the shaft 8130- oscillate-with said shaft. agitator'g'ear12 is mounted within the housing recess '9 in meshing relation with the segment gear 11, said gear12'bei1ig'provided with a' hollow bushing'exten'sion l3 jonrnaled'within the bottom. portion of the arm 7 and also provided "with" a hollow up- .wa-rdly extending sleeve portion 14:.

The bnshingextensionjl'ii is provided with an inwardly disposed shoulder 16 havingan opening :17 theret'hrough to slidably engage an agitator shaft 18 extending. axially through the gear 12 and-the end of the" arm.7. The shaft 18' is shaped to normally prevent rotation of the gear 12 thereon; said shaft 7 preferably being made square-in cro'ss section to move longitudinally throi'igh the opening 17. The shaft is provided'with a reduced in the upper part of the arm 7. The collar 21 .has its ends beveled as at 23. and 24, and an annular groove 26 is formed in the collar intermediate the beveled ends 23 and 24. The collar 21 is made of sufficient length to form a substantial bearing at the top of the shaft, while the bushing extension 13 forms a hearing spaced from said collar whereby the shaft is effectually supported when in operation. The collar 21 is adapted to seat against the upper end of the extension 14 to limit the downward movement of the shaft 18 through the gear 12. v

A retaining latch member 27 is pivotally mounted as at 28 upon the top of the arm 7 and arranged tobe moved through a transverse slot 28 formed in the bearing sleeve member 22 to engage the groove 26 of the collar 21. The member 27 is shaped to fit into the groove 26 along a substantial area and permit rotation of the collar 22 relative to the member 27. A spring actuated plunger 29 engages the latch member 27 to normally hold said member in operative engagement with the collar 21, said member 27 being movable against the tension of the plunger spring 31 by pressure exerted manually upon a lever portion 32 formed upon the free end of the latch member.

A reduced extension 33 is formedupon the upper end of the shaft 18. A knob 34 is rotatably mounted upon the extreme top of the extension 33, said extension and knob extending upwardly to a point spaced above the'top of the sleeve member 22.

In operation, the shaft 18 is moved clownwardly through the sleeve member 22 and the gear 12 with its extensions 13 and 14, the shaft being normally held against rotation by its engagement with the opening 17. As the shaft 18 is moved into operativeposition, the

lower end of the shaft is moved to engage an agitator 35 provided with agitator blades or vanes 36 and having an upwardly extending stem 37 having an axial opening therethrough to slidably engage the end of the shaft 18, the opening being shaped to substantially conform to the shape ofthe shaft toimpart movement from the shaft tothe agitator. The stem 37 is made of sufiicient length to permit the agitator'to be raised or lowered a substantial distance relative to the shaft 18 without reducing the effectiveness of the driving connection between the shaft and the agitator.

As the shaft 18 is moved downwardly to operative position, the lower beveled edge 23 of the collar 21 forces the latch member 27 outwardly to admit the collar 21 therepast. When the groove 26 reaches a point opposite the latch member 27, said latch member is moved inwardly into engagement with the groove, thereby holding the collar and shaft against further downward movement until the latch is moved to disengage the groove. The groove 26 and the reduced portion 19 of the shaft are so positioned relative to each other and relative to the latch member 27 and the shouldered portion 16 that when the shaft is supported by means of the latch 27 and the groove 26, the reduced portion 19 of the shaft will be held within the shouldered portion 16 of the gear, thereby permitting the gear 12 to be moved without imparting movement to the shaft.

By releasing the latch member 27, the shaft 18 may be moved further downwardly to the position shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, thereby moving the square portion of the shaft into engagement with the shouldered portion 16 of the gear, and causing said shaft to be actuated by and with the gear. Thus,

when the gear 12 is oscillated by the opera-' tion of the segment gear 11, the shaft 18 will be correspondingly oscillated, and the shaft will operate to oscillate the agitator 35 with a corresponding movement.

To stop the shaft 18 and agitator 35, the shaft 18 is moved upwardly by means of the extension 33 and knob 34 to the position shown in Fig. 3. The knob 34 being rotatable upon the extension 33, permits the shaft to be lifted manually while the shaft is in motion without danger of injury to the operator. As the shaft is thus lifted, the beveled edge 24 of the collar 21 forces the latch member 27 outwardly to clear the collar. As the reduced portion 19 of the shaft is moved to match with the shoulder 16, the latch 27 is moved by the plunger 29 to again engage the groove 26, thereby supporting the shaft in a position disengaged from the gear 12. The

driving mechanism 1 may now'be kept in operation for actuating the wringer or for other purposes, without imparting movement to the shaft 18 and the agitator 35.

From the position shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, the shaft may be released to drop back to operative driving position as shown in Fig. 2, or it may be moved upwardly and entirely withdrawn from the arm 7, thereby permitting the agitator 35 to be removed from the tray to afford clear and unobstructed access to the tray. To facilitate the withdrawal of the shaft 18, the lower edge of the latch member 27 is beveled as at 38, whereby pressure applied to the knob 34 to move the.

shaft upwardly will operate to force the latch member to'disengage the groove 26. By turning the lever portion 32 manually, the latch member 27 may be moved to release the shaft and permlt it to be moved downwardly by gravlty to its normal operative position.

adapted to be displaced by the beveled" ends of the collar when moved in either direction past saidmember. v

7. In a washing machine, the combination with a power driven oscillating crank shaft and an agitator gear actuated thereby, of an agitator shaft slidably mounted through the the gear;

adapted to be 1 arm and actuated a segment gear mounted upon the shaft within.

and limiting the downward gear and removable through one end thereof, said shaft being shaped to normally prevent relative rotation between the gear and shaft and having a reduced portion movable into relatively rotatable engagement with a collar secured upon the shaft to limit'movementof the shaft through he gear in one direction, said collar having beveled end-s and an annular groove intermediate said ends ;'a latch member pivotally mounted adjacent the collar and movable to engage the groove of said collar to retain the shaft in gear releasing position, said member being displaced by the beveled ends of the collar when moved in either direction -past said member and resilient means normally holding the latch member in engagement with the'shaft and collar.

8. A washing machine comprising a power actuated driving mechanism; an arm mounted adjacent the driving mechanism; an oscillating crank shaft mounted within the by the driving mechanism;

the outer end of the arm; an agitator gear mounted within the outer end of the arm in meshing relation with the segment gear; an

- agitator shaft'slidably mounted through the end or the arm and through the agitator gear, "said shaft being removable upwardly through the arm and gear and being shaped to normally prevent relative -rotation between said shaft and gear a reduced portion formed upon the shaft movable into rotatable engageanent with the gear whereby the shaft is rotated within the gear when said portion is moved into engagement with the gear; a collar mounted upon the upper end of the shaft movement of the shaftthro'ugh the gear and arm', said collar having an annular groove; and a latchmember mounted upon the arm and movable to engage the groove to hold the shaft in gear disengaging position,'and movable to release the'shaft' for downward movement to operative position.

' 9. A washing machine comprising a power actuated drlving mechanism; an arm mounted adjacent the driving mechanism; an oscillating crank shaft mounted with1n the arm and actuated by the driving mechanism;

7 a segment gear mounted uponthe shaft within the outer end of the arm; an agitator gear mountedwithin the outer end of the arm in meshingrelation with the segment gear; an agitator shaft slidably mounted through the end of the arm and through the agitator gear, said shaft being'removable upwardly to normally prevent relative rotation between said shaft and gear; a reduced portion formed upon the shaft movable into rotatable engagement with the gear whereby the shaft is rotated within the gear when said portion is moved into engagement "with the gear; a collar mounted upon the upper end of the shaft and limiting the downward movement of the shaft through the gear and arm, said collar having an annular groove a latch member mounted upon the arm and movable to engage the groove to hold the shaft in gear disengaging position, and movable to release the shaft for downward movement to operative position, said collar also having beveled ends to displace the latch member when the collar is moved in either direction therepast.

10. A washing machine comprisinga power actuated driving mechanism; an arm mounted adjacent the driving mechanism; an oscillating crank shaft mounted within the arm and actuated my the driving mechanism; a segment gear mounted upon the shaft within the outer end of the arm; an agitator gear mounted within the outer end of the arm in meshing relation-with the segment gear; an agitator shaft slidably mounted through the end of the arm and through the agitator gear, said shaft being removable upwardly through the arm and gear and being shaped to normally prevent relative rotation between said shaft and gear; a reduced portion formed upon the shaft movable into rotatable engagement with the gear whereby the shaft is rotated within the gear when said portion is moved into engagement with the gear; a collar mounted upon the upper end of the shaft and limiting the downward movement of the shaft through the gear and arm, said collar having an annular groove;

a latch member mounted upon the arm and mounted upon the upper end of the shaft 12;

wherebythe shaft may be moved to operative and disengaged positions as desired while the machine is in operation.

In witness whereof, I have'hereunto set my signature.

; FRANK J. LASAR. 

